With trips postponed, travel plans upended and many international travel restrictions still in place, it’s hard not to think back with nostalgia to the days when a passport was a key to a world of possibilities. Whether you had been planning a trip before the pandemic or have a long list of places on your destination bucket list, it’s understandable to be disappointed in the uncertain future of travel. Luckily for us, we live in a technological world that provides us with a plethora of experiences and opportunities at our fingertips. While it may not be the same to browse a virtual gallery as it is to take a leisurely stroll through the Louvre while sipping on Parisian coffee, there are still plenty of ways to satisfy your wanderlust.
Take a virtual tour
It may be a while before you get to recline in a comfortable airplane seat en route to an exotic international destination, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of the options you have while you are at home. One great way to experience the world from the comfort of your couch is through virtual tours. From museums and national landmarks to hiking trails and outdoor adventures, virtual tours give viewers the option to explore to their hearts desire. In recent years, many travel destinations have made it possible to experience places via a virtual platform, and no time is this more relevant than during a global pandemic. 360-degree virtual tours are now being offered for virtually anything you can imagine, from scuba diving to a safari experience and everything in between. Whether you want to tune in to a live theatre performance or take a virtual tour around a country’s most famous landmarks, there are countless websites and companies that make it possible.
Try your hand at cooking
While an authentic Italian dish is best experienced from a small colorful cafe overlooking the Adriatic, trying your hand at creating different international meals can be another great way to connect to a culture of a destination that you might not be able to travel to right now. Get a taste of travel by making one of your favorite dishes from a country you have visited or think ahead and try following a recipe from somewhere you hope to go when the pandemic is over.
Take a stroll
Is there a place you have always wanted to go or a destination you are dying to go back to? While looking through old pictures from a past trip may be enough to take you back to a simpler time before the pandemic, virtually strolling down the street in a different country can be a great way to transport your mind to another place and time. Try the Google Maps street view feature for a fun and engaging way to explore a new city.
We live in an unprecedented technological era and there are ever increasing ways for us to explore the world around us. While it is disappointing to see flights cancelled and trips postponed indefinitely, you can still explore the world from the comfort of your home. It may not be the same, but until we can travel again, make the most of the world of online options.
